News from April 2007
Paxil fairness hearing spills into second day as attorneys resolve money matters
Madison County Associate Judge Ralph Mendelsohn delayed a class action fairness hearing over a proposed $63.8 million settlement until Thursday morning so attorneys involved in the case could settle their differences over how the money would be distributed.
New Lawsuits: Wednesday, April 25
Fresh from the courthouse:
Illinois drops a spot to 46 in Harris survey
Tom Donohue The bad news for tort reform advocates is that Illinois dropped one spot in a national survey of state legal climates.
New Vioxx suit filed in Madison County by widower
Robert Rowland An O'Fallon man filed a civil suit against Merck & Co. in Madison County Circuit Court April 20, seeking damages for personal injuries, death and economic damages he claims his wife suffered as a result of taking the prescription medication Vioxx.
Trackman claims Illinois Central negligent
An Illinois Central Railroad trackman has filed a Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) suit against his employer claiming shoulder injuries when two machines collided.
New Lawsuits: Tuesday, April 24
Fresh from the courthouse:
Minnesotan files asbestos suit in Madison County
A Minnesota woman who suffers from mesothelioma filed an asbestos suit against 72 defendant corporations in Madison County Circuit Court April 18, alleging she was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers from her husband's clothing.
Man sues ambulance driver, city over collision
A man injured when an ambulance collided with his pick-up truck filed a personal injury suit against the City of Collinsville and the ambulance driver in Madison County Circuit Court April 18.
Eye injuries claimed from forklift incident
A Wood River woman who claims she was injured when a hose on a forklift broke filed a personal injury suit against Yale Materials Handling Gammon Inc. and General Electric Capital in Madison County Circuit Court April 17.
Judge Mallott will not seek re-appointment
Madison County Associate Judge Lewis Mallott will not seek another four-year appointment to the bench and will retire at the end of his current term in June.
New Lawsuits: Monday, April 23
Fresh from the courthouse:
Lakin free on $250k unsecured bond
Prominent Metro-East plaintiff's lawyer and Lakin Law Firm founder Tom Lakin was indicted on seven counts by a federal grand jury.
Lakin indicted
Tom Lakin Prominent Metro-East plaintiff's lawyer and Lakin Law Firm founder Tom Lakin was indicted on seven counts by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis.
Misdiagnosis leads to med mal suit
Michael A. Bowen alleges that a Belleville doctor's misdiagnosis has caused him a physical deformity and continuing pain in his left hand.
Hot dog machine lid causes man's injuries, suit says
Gerald Copeland of Belleville alleges he sustained knee and wrist injuries after falling on a clear hot dog machine lid left in the aisle of an East St. Louis convenience store.
Belleville Wal-Mart customer sues for water on floor
Wal-Mart is being sued by a paying customer who claims she slipped on water in front of a Belleville store and suffered injuries.
Lakin surrenders to U.S. Marshal
Tom Lakin Prominent Metro-East plaintiff's lawyer and Lakin Law Firm founder Tom Lakin surrendered to federal authorities early this afternoon.
Madison County Bextra suit may be added to California MDL
Attorneys for Pfizer removed a Madison County Bextra suit to federal court claiming it will inform the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) that the suit is a potential tag-along action to a panel in the Northern District of California (MDL-1699).
Retaliatory discharge suit filed against Western Oilfields
Tom Seets filed a retaliatory discharge suit against Western Oilfields Supply Company of Granite City in Madison County Circuit Court April 16.
Jensen appointed associate judge in Madison County
A long-time Madison County prosecutor has been elected to serve as an associate judge.